Vacuum cleaner floor sweepings pick-up baseboard apparatus



April 3, 1962 H. BIERSTOCK VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR SWEEPINGS PICK-UPBASEBOARD APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.fl/leer 5/5252? A 77018 N EY April 3, 1962 H. BIERSTOCK VACUUM CLEANERFLOOR SWEEPINGS PICK-UP BASEBOARD APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 4 2 WM 5 v/ a M ATTOAZA/E Y April 3, 1962 H. BIERSTOCK3,027,587

VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR SWEEPINGS PICK-UP BASEBOARD APPARATUS Filed Oct.12, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,027,587 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,827,587VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR SWEEPINGS PICK-UP BASEBGARD APPARATUS HarryBier-stock, 47 Albert St., Waterloo, (Intario, Canada Fiied Get. 12,1%9, Ser. No. 845,988 18 Claims. (Cl. 15-301) This invention relates toa vacuum cleaner floor sweeping pick-up baseboard apparatus and has foran object to provide an apparatus which may be located behind andextending through a baseboard for cooperation with a temporarily orpermanently stored vacuum cleaner for readily picking up the sweepingsof a floor, and which may be activated and deactivated by the foot ofthe sweeper without the necessity of stooping down to the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whicheliminates the necessity of a dust pan and brush for picking upsweepings, but instead, makes use of the conventional vacuum cleanernormally stored in a home when not in use, for its customary cleaningoperation, which apparatus is normally foot-operated for activating ordeactivating it, so that the housewife may dispose of the floorsweepings by merely sweeping the dust and litter to the vicinity of theapparatus of this invention and then with the foot, activate thisapparatus to dispose of the dust and litter, and then deactivate itwithout stooping or bending down.

A further object of this invention is to provide sweepings pick-upapparatus which, in effect, is an in situ attachment for a conventionalvacuum cleaner of substantiaily any type, so that the vacuum cleaner canbe readily attached thereto when stored away, and can be as readilydetached therefrom for conventional use, although the vacuum cleaner maybe left as a permanent installation, if desired.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a sweepingspick-up apparatus wherein a pick-up nozzle device is available throughan aperture in the baseboard of a room or cabinet, handy to the floorbeing swept, and the remainder of the apparatus is in the cabinet orbehind the baseboard wall, or in a closet, or even in a storage space orarea further distant from the nozzle device, such as a cellar orelsewhere.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sweepings pick-upapparatus which may be located in the forwardly extending baseboard of aroom wall, or in the rearwardly recessed baseboard of a kitchen or othercabinet, such recessed baseboard often being known as a toe or kickspace.

In brief, this sweepings pick-up apparatus is particularly intended foruse in connection with any room, usually the kitchen, of a home whichhas to be swept rather than be cleaned by a vacuum cleaner, and wherethe sweepings must usually be picked up by a dust pan and brush. Withthis invention, such dust pan and brush becomes unnecessary, and eventhe finest particles of litter and dust are picked up by this apparatus,to which the conventional vacuum cleaner is attached while in storageposition. The apparatus includes a sweepings pick-up nozzle devicelocated in an aperture of the baseboard of the room or of a cabinettherein, the nozzle device having a foot operable door for closing itoff when not in use and for opening the door and simultaneouslyactuating the stored vacuum cleaner connected thereto to pick up thesweepings, and when finished, closing the door, by the sweeper foot,also shuts oh the vacuum cleaner, yet the vacuum cleaner is availablefor its conventional use whenever desired. When the vacuum cleaner isstored, its hose is connected to a coupling to the nozzle device, anditsplug is connected to a circuit connected to the nozzle door, both 2coupling and plug connections being located inthe storage area for easyoperation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a kitchen cabinet in which theinvention has been installed, in one form.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view, partly in elevation, on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

vFIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the invention of FIGS. 1 to 5 asmounted on the end wall of a kitchen cabinet or extending through acloset wall.

.FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6. FIG. '8 is asectional view through a rotary type of nozzle mounted in the kick spaceof a cabinet.

FIG. 9 is a top sectional view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the micro switch on line 1til0 of FIG.9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of one form of push-in model in the kickspace of the kitchen cabinet.

FIG. 12 is a view on line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a sectional View of a modified form of pushin nozzle.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

There is shown at 10 one form of the vacuum cleaner floor sweepingspick-up baseboard apparatus of this invention as installed in a kitchencabinet 12 in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive and as installed through thebaseboard of a wall 14 of a closet or other storage area 16 as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 to 7 inclusive. This apparatus includes a nozzle deviceshown at 18 provided with a face plate Zti to each end of which issecured by means of the stud screw 22 a flange 24 having a verticallyextending slot 26 in a flange car 27' through which is passed. a woodscrew 28 for adjustably securing the face plate 2:9, and thus the flangeears 27 are secured in countersunk recesses 30 of a baseboard 32, thusadjusting the position of the nozzle device 18 to the floor covering 34,so that the entrance lower lip 36 of the nozzle mouth 38 will be in thesame plane, as shown in FIG. 4.

The stud screw 22 also extends into a nozzle ear 40 extending from theside edge of the nozzle mouth 38 to thus secure the nozzle 42 thereto,with the upper lip 44 in spaced relation behind the face plate 20, thusproviding space for a nozzle door 46 to move up to open and down toclose an aperture 48 in face plate 20 aligned with the entrance 50 tothe nozzle 42. The face plate 20 has a vertical slot 52 through whichextends a boss 54- secured at 56 to the door 46 and provided with aflange 58 on the outside of the face plate 20 and an annular spring 60between the door 46 and the face plate 20 serves to yieldably retain thedoor 46 in either open or closed position. A toe engaging finger 62 isprovided extending from the boss 54 for operation by the foot of thesweeper for raising or lowering the door 46 between open and closedpositions without bending over or stoopmg.

The baseboard 32 may be recessed between the floor 63 of a kitchen andthe floor of the cabinet 12 in the conventional kick space 64, as shownin FIG. 2, or it may be at the bottom of a room or closet wall 14providing a storage area 16.

Extending from the nozzle 42, to which it is connected in a conventionalmanner by a clamping screw 68 is a pipe or hose 70 terminating in afemale coupling 72 into which may be inserted the end of a vacuumcleaner hose 74. A pair of supporting hooks 76 are provided in thestorage space 16, and the hose 74 of any conventional vacuum cleaner 78is removably stored in the storage space 16 in the cabinet or closet.The electric cord 80 from the vacuum cleaner switch 82 has its plug 84inserted in the electric receptacle 86 located conveniently beside thecoupling 72. A cut-out switch 88 is provided in the receptacle 86, whichis at a convenient height, as when there are children present who mightplay with the door 46 and its finger 62, thus avoiding the need forbending over to the vacuum cleaner switch 82 once the vacuum cleaner 78has been placed in storage position.

From the receptacle 86 there extends an electric conduit 90 connected toa micro-switch 96 mounted in a bracket 94 on the nozzle device 18.Actuating means for the micro-switch 96 is provided by push buttonswitch 98 mounted in the path of a spring arm 180 mounted on the bracket94 and normally biased away therefrom and carrying a roller 182 normallyin the path of the beveled top edge 104 of the door 46. Assuming thatboth the vacuum cleaner switch 82 and the cut-out switch 88 are incircuit completing position, lifting the toe finger 62 by the sweepersfoot will lift the door 46 to open position, and simultaneously, throughthe door beveled edge 104, pushing the roller 182 back, cause the springarm 100 to depress push button switch 98 and cause the microswitch 96 tocomplete the circuit from the receptacle 86 to the vacuum cleaner 78,and thus create a vacuum at the entrance 50 to the nozzle 42, and suckin any floor sweepings, dust, litter, etc. which has been swept to aposition close to the face plate opening 48 on the floor covering 34,and pick up even the finest particles of dust or debris which normallyare not picked up by a dust pan and broom. When the sweepings are allpicked up, downward pressure on door finger 62 moves the door 46 toclosed position, and spring arm 100 releases its pressure on push button98 to intermpt the circuit to the vacuum cleaner 78. Obviously, themicro-switch 96 may be a conventional switch with the vacuum cleanercircuit coming thereto in series, or a micro-switch for controlling thecircuit from the receptacle 86, as both systems are conventional.

The operation of this form of the invention is clear from the abovedescription. When the sweeper or housekeeper wishes to use the vacuumcleaner 78 for its conventional cleaning purpose elsewhere in the house,she merely lifts the vacuum cleaner hose 74 out of the coupling 72 andunplugs the plug 84 from the receptacle 86, and then removes and usesthe vacuum cleaner as desired. When finished, she again places thevacuum cleaner 78 in the storage space 16, inserts the plug 84 and thehose 74, and, if switches 88 and 82 are in the on" position, the systemis ready for automatic operation at any time. If small children are inthe room who may be tempted to play with the door 46, she merelyoperates the switch 88 to the 011 position and leaves it off while thechildren are present.

The principles of this invention may be used, even though the details ofthe nozzle device are changed, and some different types of nozzledevices are here illustrated. In FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, a rotary type ofnozzle device 110 is shown. In FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, one type of apush-in nozzle device 112 is shown, and in FIGS. 14 and another type ofpush-in nozzle device 114 is shown. These alternate types 118, 112 and114 are particularly intended for use in connection with recessedbaseboards providing toe spaces, such as in cabinets.

The rotary nozzle device 110 is generally L-shaped, as shown in FIG. 8,and has a female hose coupling 116 mounted at the upper end of asomewhat vertical leg 118 of the nozzle device 110. This leg 118 isadjustably secured by ball joint 120 and a locking nut 122 through aball bearing housing 124 extending through the floor 126 The ball joint128 makes it possible to mount the leg 1 18 slightly oii center from thevertical, as shown by theangle center line 134 and the vertical line136, the angle line 134 extending forwardly as shown. Rotatably mounb'ed on the vertical leg 118 by means of the ball bearings 138 is an Lnozzle body 140 on the other end of which is mounted the nozzle 142, atoe pad 144 being mounted on the nozzle mouth 146 thereon at one end asshown, for pushing the nozzle device 118 in a rotary direction from theopen position shown in full lines to the closed position shown in dashlines at 143. Due to the sllght inclination of the leg 118, as shown byangle line 134, the beveled nozzle entrance lip 148 rests on the fioor130 in open position as shown in full lines in FIG. 8, and lifts abovethe floor to avoid scratching it, as shownnn dash lines at 143. A door150 for the framed opening 152 in the recessed baseboard 154 of cabinet128 15 mounted on the back of the nozzle L body 14 50 that when thenozzle 142 is rotated to closed position, th door 150 closes the framedopening 152. A toe pad .1 is provided at one end of door 150, and thedoor is likewise lifted when moving to the open position shown in fulllines in FIG. 8, the closed position being shown at 151. A right angleflange 156 extends from one end of door 150 and cooperates with a pushbutton switch 158 on a micro-switch 160 mounted at one end of the framedopening 152, both to limit the closing position of the door, and toautomatically out 01f the power in the circuit to the vacuum cleanerwhen the door is closed. A magnet 162 cooperates with a magnetic member163 on the door 150 to hold it in closed position, and pressure on thenozzle toe pad 144 closes the door until magnet 162 takes eifect to holdit closed. Foot pressure on door toe pad 155 opens the door and placesthe nozzle 142 in operative position, and simultaneously completes theeir= cuit to the vacuum cleaner.

A second toe pad 166 is provided on the nozzle 142 for use, ifnecessary, in pushing the nozzle toward closed po sition, While a coilspring 168 about the leg 1'18 biases the nozzle toward open position,once initial pressure on toe pad 155 on the door 150 has moved the doormagnetic member 163 away from the magnet 162 fixed on the top of framedopening 152.

In the form of push-in nozzle device shown at 112 in FIGS. 11, 12 and13, the nozzle device 114 includes a nozzle 170 generally T-shaped asshown, the T-stem leg 172 being provided with a female hose coupling 174for receiving the vacuum cleaner hose 74 therein. The T- stem leg 172 isadjustably secured through a housing 176 by a set screw 178, the housing176 being secured through an opening in the cabinet floor 180 by woodscrews 181. The T-head leg 182 of nozzle device 112 is hollow and at aslight downward angle, and slidably receives a nozzle tube 184 therein,a nozzle month 186 being mounted thereon. A coil spring 188 about nozzletube 184 between the T-head leg 182 and the nozzle mouth 186 biases thenozzle mouth 186 forwardly and downwardly from the inoperative or closedposition shown in dash lines to the open position shown in full lines,with a tube side opening 187 mating with the end of hollow leg 172, theother end of the nozzle tube 184 being closed by a flanged cap 189,there being a cushion band 191 between cap 189 and the T-head leg 182.The cap 189 serves to limit the forward movement of the tube mouth 186to the position shown with a lower entrance beveled lip 190 just makingcontact with the room floor covering 192 as shown in FIG. 11. Rotationof the tube 184 within the hollow T-head leg 182 is prevented bycooperating keyways 1% and ball bearings 195 on the tube 184 and T--head leg 182.

The nozzle mouth 186 pushes forward to operative open position through aframed opening 196 in the recessed baseboard 198 in the kick space 200beneath the cabinet 202 having the storage space 204. Hinged to the-framed opening .196 at .205 is a door 206 having a toe pad 208extending beyond the front of the cabinet 202 when in open position, asshown in FIG. '11. A link 210 pivoted at one end at 212 to an ear 214 ondoor 208 and pivoted at its other end 216 to one latch part 218 of atouch-latch, such as described in US. Patent 'No. 2,637,- 576, the otherlatch part 220 being mounted on the T- stem leg 172.

A bracket 222 mounted on the T-head leg 182 supports the micro-switch224 from which extends the circuit conduit 226, the micro-switch pushbutton switch 228 being located in the path of a flange 230 extendingfrom the nozzle tube cap 189, so that when the nozzle mouth 186 is inforward position with the door 210 in open position, the circuit throughconduit to the vacuum is completed, while when in the dash outlinedretracted and closed position, the circuit is interrupted. To close thedoor 208 and cut off the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the toe pad208 is stepped on downwardly, closing the door about its hinge, pushingthe nozzle mouth back against the bias of coil spring 188 until thetouch latch parts 218 and 220 cooperate to hold the door closed. To openthe door and operate the vacuum cleaner, the toe pad 208 is kickedslightly, causing the touch latch 218 and 220 to release and the dooropens, the nozzle moves forward to operating position, and the circuitis completed to the vacuum cleaner stored in the storage space 204.

The other form of push in nozzle device shown at 114 in FIGS. 14 and 15is similar to the one shown at 11 except for certain details, and wherethe details are identical, the same reference numbers are used, and theforegoing description applies thereto. In this case, the nozzle month186 is mounted on a nozzle tube 244 which has an opening at 242 matingwith the opening at the bottom of nozzle device leg 172 when inoperative or open position. It is biased to operative position by aspring 244 located between the end of the nozzle tube 240 and anabutment 246 at the end of the leg 243 extending from vertical leg 172in FIGS. 14 and 15. A bolt and nut 254) and 251 limits the forwardmovement of the tube nozzle tube 248 and its nozzle mouth 186. Themicro-switch 252 has a push button 254 for interrupting the circuit whenit is pushed in by a flange 256 mounted on nozzle tube 240. The leg 248is at a slight angle, so that nozzle mouth lower entrance lip 198contacts the floor covering 192, just as in the other form, to preventsweepings from passing thereunder and escaping the suction.

The operation of all forms of this invention by the sweeper is the same,the door is opened by the foot of the sweeper, simultaneously activatingthe vacuum cleaner, and is closed in the same manner to deactivate thevacuum cleaner, and the vacuum cleaner may be removed, at any time, whendesired, for conventional use. The storage space for the vacuum cleanermay be in a cabinet, in a closet, or in a space more remote from theroom being swept, by merely making the circuit conduit and theconnecting hose for receiving the vacuum cleaner hose of appropriatelength.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail,it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as beinglimited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail andconstruction may be made therein Within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner floor sweepings pick up baseboard apparatuscomprising a sweepings pick-up nozzle device, said nozzle deviceincluding an elongated nozzle mouth member having a long lower lipportion mounted to have the suction thereof extend through a baseboardaperture commencing at and extending upwardly from the level of thefloor the sweepings from which are to be picked up, a vacuum cleaner, avacuum hose for connecting the vacuum cleaner to said nozzle device, acircuit receptacle for receiving the electric plug of the vacuumcleaner, a vacuum cleaner circuit completing and interrupting meansoperatively associated with said nozzle device, and nozzle deviceoperating means for activating or deactivating said nozzle device andsaid vacuum cleaner circuit completing and interrupting means, wherebywhen the hose of the vacuum cleaner is connected to said nozzle deviceand the vacuum cleaner electric plug is connected to the circuitreceptacle, and the vacuum cleaner switch is in its on position,operation of said nozzle device operating means will activate the vacuumcleaner and said nozzle device to sweepings pick up condition ordeactivate both said nozzle device and the vacuum cleaner to inactivecondition, the vacuum cleaner being a stored portable type vacuumcleaner normally used independently, but temporarily connected to saidvacuum hose and thereby to said nozzle device.

2. A vacuum cleaner floor sweepings pick up baseboard apparatuscomprising a sweepings pick-up nozzle device, said nozzle deviceincluding an elongated nozzle mouth having a long lower lip portionmounted to have the suction thereof extend through a baseboard aperturecommencing at and extending upwardly from the level of the floor thesweepings from which are to be picked up, a vacuum cleaner hose forconnecting a vacuum cleaner to said nozzle device, a circuit receptaclefor receiving the electric plug of the vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleanercircuit completing and interrupting means operatively associated withsaid nozzle device, and nozzle device operating means for activating ordeactivating said nozzle device and said vacuum cleaner circuitcompleting and interrupting means, whereby when the hose of the vacuumcleaner is connected to said nozzle device and the vacuum cleanerelectric plug is connected to the circuit receptacle, and the vacuumcleaner switch is in its on position, operation of said nozzle deviceoperating means will activate the vacuum cleaner and said nozzle deviceto sweepings pick up condition or deactivate both said nozzle device andthe vacuum cleaner to inactive condition, said nozzle device operatingmeans comprising a door associated with said nozzle device and locatedbetween said nozzle device and the floor when said nozzle device is indeactivated position, said circuit completing means being activated anddeactivated by movement of said door between open and closed positions,respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, and foot cooperating means on said door.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, said door being mounted on said nozzledevice for movement between open and closed positions, said circuitcompleting means being mounted on said nozzle device and having anactuating means mounted for actuation by movement of said door forcompleting the circuit while said door is open and interrupting thecircuit while the door is closed.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, said door being mounted on said nozzledevice for vertical movement in the front thereof between open andclosed positions, said circuit completing means being mounted on saidnozzle device and having an actuating means mounted in the vertical pathof movement of said door for completing the circuit while said door isopen and interrupting the circuit while the door is closed.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, said door being mounted on said nozzledevice for rotary movement between open and closed positions, saidcircuit completing means being mounted in the rotary path of movement ofsaid door for completing the circuit while the door is open andinterrupting the circuit while the door is closed.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, said door being hingedly mounted on saidnozzle device for swinging movement between open and closed position,said nozzle device being reciprocally mounted for movement betweenactive and inactive positions, and link means connecting said door andsaid nozzle device for simultaneous actuation, said circuit completingmeans being mounted on said nozzle device in the path of an actuatingmember mounted on said reciprocating nozzle device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, and means biasing said nozzle deviceforwardly and downwardly to active position and simultaneously throughsaid link means, swinging said door to open position, and touch latchmeans for releasably holding said nozzle device in inactive position andsaid door in closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, said nozzle device including a T-tubeconnected to said hose and having its T-head mounted at a slight angleto the horizontal, said nozzle device comprising a nozzle sleevetelescoped within said T-head and having an entrance complementary tosaid hollow T-stem when in forward position, said nozzle mouth being onthe end of said nozzle sleeve.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said biasing means comprising a coilexpansion spring about said nozzle sleeve between said nozzle mouth andsaid T-stem.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, said biasing means comprising a coilexpansion spring in interposed position within said T-head between theend of said nozzle sleeve within said T-head and am abutment on theopposite end of said T-head.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, and a stop lirnit rod secured to the endof said nozzle sleeve and extending through said abutment.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, said nozzle device comprising an L-shapedtube, said nozzle mouth being secured at the end of one leg of saidL-shaped tube, said hose being connected to the other leg of saidL-shaped tube, and means for rotatably mounting said other leg at aslight angle from the vertical toward the open door position of saidnozzle device, whereby said nozzle mouth descends as it rotates to opendoor position, and ascends as it rotates to closed door position, saidclosed door position being determined by collision between said door andsaid circuit interrupting and completing means.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, said nozzle device comprising said nozzlemouth, a face plate adjustably secured to said nozzle mouth and spacedforwardly therefrom, said face plate having an aperture complementary tothe nozzle mouth aperture, and means for slidably mounting said doorbetween said face plate and said nozzle mouth for vertical movementbetween open and closed positions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said nozzle mouth being secured in astationary position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, said mounting means comprising a verticalslot in said face plate, a boss secured on said door and guided in saidvertical slot, a flange on said boss extending beyond said slot, andbiasing means between said face plate and door holding said door in anyposition.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, and a toe cooperating finger extendingfrom said boss in said slot.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, a storage area for the vacuum cleanerlocated behind the baseboard, and means in said storage area fordetachably supporting the vacuum cleaner hose in a smooth curve betweenthe vacuum cleaner stored therein and said nozzle device, said electricplug receiving receptacle being located in said storage area.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,618,667 Melcher Feb. 22, 1 927 1,681,624 Replogle Aug. 21, 19281,717,471 Spencer June 18, 1929 2,023,955 Harvey Dec. 10, 1935 2,128,207Hodge Aug. 23, 1938 2,675,273 Sanders Apr. 13, 1954 2,810,028 HopperOct. 15, 1957

